[Clayoquot Sound - Recommendations] These recommendations come from Reports 5, 4, and 2 of the Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forest Practices in Clayoquot Sound. (See accompanying README.TXT) Contents Sustainable Ecosystem Management in Clayoquot Sound: Planning and Practices, Report 5 * Silvicultural Systems * Harvesting Systems * Transportation Systems * Scenic, Recreational, and Tourism Values and Resources * Planning for Sustainable Ecosystem Management * Monitoring First Nations' Perspectives Relating to Forest Practices Standards in Clayoquot Sound, Report 3 * International Convention * Co-Management * Consultation and Planning * Recognition of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) * Hahuulhi: Traditional System for Ecosystem Management * Foreshore and Offshore Resources * Nuu-Chah-Nulth Cultural Areas, Including Sacred Areas, Historic Areas, Current Use Areas, and Future Use Areas * Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Parks * Inventory and Mapping * Operations * Education and Training * Employment * Monitoring * Evaluation * Restoration * Research Review of Current Forest Practice Standards in Clayoquot Sound, Report 2 * General * Soils, Slope Stability, and Erosion * Water Flow * Water Quality * Channel Integrity * Maintaining Biodiversity * Scenic Resources * Recreation and Tourism * Inclusion of First Nations * Forest Planning * Undeveloped Watersheds * Special Management Area Boundaries (Note: Reports 1 and 4 do not contain recommendations.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sustainable Ecosystem Management in Clayoquot Sound: Planning and Practices, Report 5 Note: Prefix 'R' refers to 'recommendation'. Silvicultural Systems R3.1 Within the watershed planning unit, determine a rate-of-cut based on the watershed area. Specifically: * Limit the area cut in any watershed larger than 500Êha in total area to no more than 5% of the watershed area within a five-year period. * In primary watersheds of 200-500Êha in total area, limit the area cut to no more than 10% of the watershed area within a 10-year period. (This prescription provides flexibility for harvesting within small watersheds.) * In any watershed larger than 500Êha in total area, and primary watersheds of 200-500Êha in total area in which harvest has exceeded 20% of the watershed area in the most recent 10 years, allow no further harvest until the watershed conforms with the specified rate-of-cut. * In any watershed specified in the previous recommendations and in which the recent harvest is greater than 5% in the last five years, but less than 20% in the last 10 years, allow no further cutting until a watershed sensitivity analysis and stream channel audit have been completed. If these assessments indicate significant hydrological disturbance, substantial or chronic increase in sediment yield, or significant deterioration in aquatic habitat, cease harvesting until undesirable conditions are relieved. Otherwise, harvest may continue at a rate which will bring the drainage unit within the recommended rate-of-cut limits within five years. * In any watershed larger than 500Êha in total area (and primary watersheds of 200-500Êha in total area) in which harvest has occurred, require a watershed sensitivity analysis and stream channel audit once every five years. Where such assessments identify hydrological disturbance, substantial increase in sediment yield, or significant deterioration in aquatic habitat, cease harvesting until these conditions are relieved. If such conditions are recognized at any other time, sensitivity analysis and/or stream channel audit shall be undertaken immediately. * In watersheds where the harvestable area is less than 30% of the total area, allow resource managers to use professional judgement to vary these standards without changing the intent to regulate rate of harvest to minimize hydrological change. * Periodically review these recommendations and reformulate as the results of monitoring accumulate. * In watersheds important for their scenic values, complying with the visual landscape management objectives may restrict the rate-of-cut below the limits specified above. R3.2 Within the harvestable areas, determine the size and configuration of cutting units based on consideration of topography, site and stand conditions, adjacent reserve areas, visual landscape management objectives and design principles, and operational constraints. Once an annual rate-of-cut (in hectares per year) from the watershed is determined, no arbitrary limit on the size and adjacency of individual cutting units within a watershed is needed because the rate-of-cut limits proposed (R3.1) restrict the amount and rate of disturbance within a watershed. Exceptions occur where size and adjacency must be considered in relation to visual landscape management objectives. Riparian and other reserve areas established at the watershed planning level will protect values that require reserve forest. R3.3 Adopt new terms to describe non-conventional silvicultural systems. Conventional terms are inappropriate to describe systems designed to protect multiple values, maintain ecosystem function, and produce a diversity of forest products. R3.4 Replace conventional silvicultural systems in Clayoquot Sound with a "variable-retention silvicultural system." The purpose of this system is to preserve, in managed stands, far more of the characteristics of natural forests. The variable-retention system provides for the permanent retention after harvest of various forest "structures" or habitat elements such as large decadent trees or groups of trees, snags, logs, and downed wood from the original stand that provide habitat for forest biota. Forest structures are retained to meet the following specific ecological objectives: * to provide, immediately after harvest, habitat (e.g., large trees, snags, and logs) important to the survival of organisms and processes that would otherwise be lost from the harvested area either temporarily or permanently; * to enrich current and future forests by maintaining some remnant structural features and organisms from the previous stands. These features might otherwise be absent from the cutting unit for decades after logging; and * to improve "connectivity" between cutting units and forest areas by facilitating the movement of organisms through the cutover areas. Retention silvicultural systems facilitate protection of culturally important sites (e.g., culturally modified trees), and scenic and recreational values. The variable-retention silvicultural system provides for a range of retention levels. The type, amount, and spatial pattern of the retained material depend on site characteristics and management objectives. R3.5 Specify prescriptions for variable-retention cutting units in terms of the types, spatial distribution, and amount of forest structures that are to be retained. "Types of structures" refers to the kind of material that is selected for retention (e.g., snags, large live trees). "Spatial distribution of structures" refers to whether retained trees are aggregated in small intact patches or strips of forest, or are dispersed as individual structures over the cutting unit. Aggregates are particularly useful in providing opportunities for safely retaining snags and "danger trees" important to biological diversity. "Amounts of structures" refers to their density or cover within the cutting unit. The amount of live tree retention is described in terms of numbers of stems when retention is dispersed, and in terms of area when retention is aggregated. R3.6 On cutting units with significant values for resources other than timber (e.g., visual, cultural, or wildlife resources), or with sensitive areas, implement high levels of retention. Examples of sensitive areas include dry floodplains (outside of riparian reserves), areas with high visual landscape management objectives (currently described by visual quality objectives of "preservation, retention, or partial retention"), steep slopes, and marginally stable slopes and soils (stability class IV). On such units: * retain at least 70% of the forest in a relatively uniform distribution; * when harvest occurs in small patches, limit opening sizes to 0.3Êha or less; * retain at least some larger diameter, old, and dying trees; snags; and downed wood throughout the forest (but not necessarily in harvested patches); and * identify "no-work zones" representing a minimum of 15% of the cutting unit area (i.e., areas including snags and other danger trees) before any harvesting takes place. R3.7 On cutting units without significant values for resources other than timber, or without sensitive areas (e.g., with no steep slopes or unstable soils), implement low levels of retention. On such units: * retain at least 15% of the forest; * retain most material as forest aggregates of 0.1-1.0Êha well dispersed throughout the cutting unit; * ensure aggregates are representative of forest conditions in the cutting unit (i.e., should not be disproportionately located in less productive portions of the cutting unit); * retain aggregates intact as "no-work zones"; * regardless of retention level, ensure that no place in an opening is greater than two tree heights from the edge of an existing aggregate or stand; and * when dispersed retention is employed, select the most windfirm, dominant trees present on the unit. R3.8 Tailor prescriptions for retention to stand characteristics, topographic conditions, and other resource values on the working unit. * In general, retain a representative cross-section of species and structures of the original stand. * Select specific structures and patches to meet ecological objectives (e.g., provide future habitat for cavity-using species). * Select patches to protect culturally important features (e.g., culturally modified trees, recreation sites, scenic features). * Determine appropriate amounts of retention based on ecological sensitivity and forest values within the working unit. R3.9 Exempt very small working units (i.e., less than four tree heights across) from the minimum 15% retention requirement in R3.7. R3.10 Do not salvage blowdown in retention cutting units except where it threatens desired values (e.g., by establishing the potential for unnaturally large or frequent debris flows, especially ones that might threaten special sites such as spawning areas). Areas of blowdown provide live trees, snags, downed wood, or wood in streams which are habitat for many organisms in present and future stands. Abundant coarse woody debris is an important element in the forests and stream channels of Clayoquot Sound; its removal is potentially disruptive to the objectives of retention and, in most cases, is unnecessary. R3.11 Design the size, shape, and location of areas to be harvested within a cutting unit to comply with topography and visual landscape management objectives established for the area. R3.12 Develop restoration plans for areas where forest values have been degraded. Restoration plans should initially target: * the restoration of hydroriparian zones; and * large areas which have been clearcut in the past without retention of late successional features (e.g., large, old living trees; snags; and downed logs). One feature of these plans would be to restore or hasten late successional conditions within the harvestable area through either extended "rotations" or appropriate stand tending (e.g., R3.16). R3.13 In applying the variable-retention system, augment understanding of retention objectives with judgement and local experience. For example, use aggregated retention, mitigative measures, and local knowledge to reduce risks of windthrow, especially when mid-levels of retention are prescribed. R3.14 Initiate training programs in new techniques (e.g., wildlife tree assessment, no-work zones, and riparian management) for forest workers. R3.15 Provide incentives for tenure holders to implement the variable-retention system and to apply greater than minimum levels of retention. For example, incorporate flexibility in the stumpage appraisal system so that innovation is not discouraged by undue reliance on historic costs. R3.16 Encourage innovative approaches to silvicultural practices throughout the stand rotation to promote diverse forest structure and habitats, and to attain structural features of old-growth forests. For example, patches of wide spacing during pre-commercial and commercial thinning can encourage more rapid development of characteristics similar to old growth in both the overstory and understory. R3.17 Post-harvest silvicultural treatments should approximate natural patterns. For example, regeneration of naturally occurring species mixes should be encouraged and prescribed burning should be limited to small areas. R3.18 Devise methods of monitoring the multiple objectives of retention silvicultural prescriptions (i.e., expand the Pre-harvest Silviculture Prescription (PHSP) beyond the current emphasis on attaining regeneration). R3.19 Implement an adaptive management strategy to incorporate new knowledge and experience. Establish research and monitoring programs to assess effectiveness of these initial recommendations in meeting ecological, cultural, scenic, and economic objectives, and to improve recommendations on an ongoing basis. R3.20 Because innovative practices may have unanticipated consequences, policy also must be adaptive. Establish policies to modify standards and practices when consequences contrary to the objectives of sustainable ecosystem management are clearly documented or when alternative approaches for achieving objectives are recognized. Act to ensure that monitoring procedures anticipate surprise and that regulations can be quickly modified to reflect new information. R3.21 Phase in the variable-retention silvicultural system in Clayoquot Sound over a five-year period, according to the following schedule of minimum achievements: * 20% of the annual area harvested by end of 1996; * 50% of the annual area harvested by end of 1998; and * 100% of the annual area harvested by end of 1999. R3.22 Fast-track watershed-level planning. While the Panel recognizes that some harvesting by the variable-retention system will be undertaken before appropriate watershed-level planning can be completed, harvest without requisite watershed-level planning should be minimized. Harvesting Systems R4.1 Select a harvesting system that meets safety and other specified objectives (e.g., minimal ground disturbance) consistent with variable-retention silvicultural prescriptions. R4.2 Plan and implement yarding to minimize soil disturbance, site degradation, and damage to retained trees. Restrict ground-based logging to hoe forwarding or similar low-impact yarding methods appropriate to the prevailing weather and soil conditions in Clayoquot Sound. Use partial or full suspension cable yarding and helicopter logging as required to minimize detrimental soil disturbance and damage to retained trees. R4.3 Undertake operational trials of harvesting with the variable-retention silvicultural system at a range of levels and distributions of retention to establish design parameters and procedures for cutblock layout, falling, and yarding, particularly for skyline methods involving lateral yarding. Because this information is needed to support the recommended phase-in of a variable-retention silvicultural system, a cooperative effort (e.g., B.C. Ministry of Forests Engineering Branch, Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada, and members of the forest industry) is warranted, including consultation with experienced operators in the Pacific Northwest. R4.4 Develop education and training programs to provide forest engineers, technicians, and forest workers with the knowledge and skills required to plan and implement harvesting operations appropriate to a variable-retention silvicultural system in Clayoquot Sound. Provide continuing education opportunities to encourage development of a skilled, motivated, and stable workforce. Training must address silvicultural objectives (e.g., habitat, biological diversity, regeneration) and operational constraints (e.g., harvesting system requirements, windfirmness, yarding patterns, falling patterns) at all levels, including: * professional foresters who prescribe the level, type, and distribution of retention in the Pre-harvest Silviculture Prescription; * forest engineers who formulate logging plans, and technicians who lay out retention cutting units; and * fallers who make on-site decisions about safe and efficient falling, bucking, and yarding, and other forest workers involved in harvesting. This education and training is urgent in view of the recommended phase-in schedule. R4.5 A university-level program of study in forest engineering that would qualify its graduates for professional registration in both forestry (registered professional forester) and engineering (professional engineer) is needed to fulfil the greater demands for complex forest engineering and planning that the Panel's recommendations require. R4.6 Government, forest companies, and labour, through discussion, must address issues of increased manpower requirements, reduced productivity (i.e., cubic metres per shift), and increased costs involved with the variable-retention silvicultural system. Transportation Systems R5.1 Respect the following priorities in resolving conflicts related to road location: * Where irreplaceable values or highly sensitive features are on or near a proposed road location, select another road location or do not build a road. Such features and values include special or rare habitats (including habitats known to be occupied by endangered, rare, and vulnerable species), heritage and cultural features, active floodplain areas and channels, areas mapped as stability class V or Es1, and all but highly localized areas of marginally stable terrain. * Where damage to watershed integrity and ecosystem function is possible, construct roads only if: no alternative route is available; the road is required to access a substantial harvestable area; and mitigating measures (e.g., special construction, rehabilitation) are biologically and physically feasible. Seek professional advice from appropriate specialists approved by the B.C. Ministry of Forests (e.g., professional agronomists (soil scientists), professional biologists, professional engineers, professional geoscientists) whenever road construction is contemplated in areas including: mapped stability class IV terrain; highly erodible soils; mapped Es2 areas; localized areas of marginally stable terrain; or areas where significant impact on growing sites, riparian zones, or aquatic ecosystems can be anticipated. * Where significant damage to visual or recreational values is possible, use the proposed location only where mitigating measures are feasible according to appropriate specialists. R5.2 Improve on-the-ground performance in construction and maintenance of road drainage structures (ditches, culverts, bridges) to meet the demands of the wet climate. Reduce the impact of roads on hydrological regimes by constructing roads that allow the passage of shallow subsurface groundwater. Achievement of this recommendation will require research. R5.3 Require an overall road deactivation plan that addresses and effectively integrates the needs for long-term access for stand tending, protection, and recreation. The plan should reflect the fact that roads are a long-term investment, often needed to facilitate future land management. R5.4 For main or branch roads on slopes consistently greater than 55%, use full bench cuts and endhaul construction, or seek professional advice to ensure that slope stability is maintained and potentially affected resource values are not diminished. In rock cuts, use controlled blasting techniques and follow manufacturers' specifications to: avoid damage to standing timber, retain shot-rock on the right-of-way, maximize the utility of the rock for subgrade or rip-rap, minimize over-breakage, and prevent blast-triggered slides. R5.5 Revegetate all disturbed areas associated with roads. Promptly apply erosion control, grass-legume (or equivalent) seed mixes to all denuded mineral soil surfaces (i.e., surfaces other than clean shot-rock or bedrock associated with road construction), including cutslopes, fillslopes, borrow pits, and waste disposal areas. Use indigenous, non-invasive species for revegetation wherever possible to avoid deleterious effects on non-forest communities (e.g., white clover, Trifolium repens, can invade saltmarsh communities and replace the native springbank clover, Trifolium wormskjoldii). Research is anticipated to increase the number of indigenous species available for rehabilitation. R5.6 With the increased skyline yarding to central landings, and helicopter yarding that are expected to accompany the variable-retention silvicultural system, many roads will serve only transportation requirements (i.e., will not be used as a landing). Therefore, determine required road widths based on anticipated vehicles (i.e., vehicles that will use the road) and traffic volumes. Road widths should not exceed 4.25Êm except as required on curves for sidetracking of trailer units and for turnouts. Wider or higher standard roads may be justified by special needs or safety, such as heavy industrial or recreational use, or regular use by local communities. R5.7 Determine the percentage of the productive forest landbase to be converted to permanent access (roads and landings) on a watershed-specific basis during watershed-level planning. The maximum percentage of the harvestable area designated for permanent access should normally be less than 5%. All other temporary roads and access trails must be rehabilitated to a productive state. R5.8 Standards are required for dryland sort and log dump construction, operation and maintenance. Construct and operate dryland sorts to ensure that: * the surface of the dryland sort slopes landward, rather than seaward; and * surface runoff is intercepted by a ditch on the landward side of the dump. The ditch should direct runoff to a collecting basin from which solids are filtered and regularly removed. R5.9 On all proposed log dump sites, undertake an ecological assessment that permits DFO to evaluate productivity and sensitivity of the system (including non-commercial species); a physical assessment to determine site exposure to waves and storms, anticipated wave velocities and direction, and near-shore terrain conditions; and an assessment of probable impacts (including noise) on heritage, scenic, wildlife, and recreational values. R5.10 Minimize time logs are in the water, especially shallow water, by sorting on land and storing log bundles in deep water. R5.11 Locate log dumps at sufficient distances from sensitive areas such as herring spawning sites, shellfish beds, estuaries, or eelgrass beds, to preclude physical disturbance or deposition of deleterious organic materials. R5.12 Ensure log dump sites are deep enough to avoid problems with the propeller wash of dozer boats and grounding of booms or bundles. R5.13 Restore sites that have been damaged by excessive accumulations of bark, woody material, or fine organic material. Scenic, Recreational, and Tourism Values and Resources R6.1 Involve the provincial government, First Nations, regional and local governments, recreation and tourism groups, industry, and other public interest groups in the inventory, analysis, and planning of scenic resources. Provide opportunities for meaningful involvement by the public at large. R6.2 Develop an inventory system for scenic resources with the following characteristics: * Map scenic resources for all of Clayoquot Sound at a scale of 1:250Ê000 which considers overall landscape patterns and the role of the landscape in relation to existing and potential use. * Develop a new inventory system for visual landscape units which would be used during subregional and watershed planning. During this inventory, divide the study area into landscape units based on similarities in landscape characteristics (e.g., physiography and level of alteration), the degree and type of human activity, and viewer-related factors. For each landscape unit, describe the landscape characteristics, including the degree of alteration or development and major land and water uses. * Develop a new scale to describe visual quality objectives which: describes alteration by less technical terminology, is easier for the public to understand, is unrelated to silvicultural system terminology, and accounts for uses other than forestry. The following terms could be used: unaltered/undeveloped, natural-appearing, minimal alteration/development, moderate alteration/development, highly altered/developed, intensively altered/developed. * Clearly summarize the landscape inventory information on maps (e.g., landscape characteristics, degree of alteration/development) so that participants in the planning process can understand and provide input to the inventory. R6.3 Use the information from the landscape inventory, existing and potential use patterns, and public preferences in the area to analyze scenic resources. Determine the patterns in the landscape, levels of scenic quality, and opportunities and constraints for use related to future scenic resources. Conduct this analysis at the subregional and watershed levels. Computer modelling is an effective way to analyze the landscape inventory information. Involve the planning group in the analysis. R6.4 Based on the analysis in R6.3, develop a long-term management plan (e.g., 100 years with review every five years) for scenic resources. This plan should identify visual landscape management units for all of Clayoquot Sound. For each management unit, include: * a description of the essential characteristics of the scenery; * existing and potential resource values and human uses; * the relative value of scenic resources in the unit; and * visual landscape management objectives, including the desired character of the area, the proposed level of alteration or development, needs and methods of rehabilitation, acceptable land and water uses, and any specific measures that may be required to protect scenic values. Quantification of alteration should be avoided. Examples are a better way of showing intent. The plan should be developed in consultation with the planning group identified in R6.1. R6.5 Integrate the recommendations of the visual landscape management plan into all other forest plans during subregional-level, watershed-level, and site-level planning. Where visual concerns must be reconciled with those of other resource values, do so in a collaborative manner with all disciplines represented, recognizing that the primary goal is to maintain ecosystem integrity. R6.6 Use landscape design principles in the development of detailed silvicultural plans and development plans for other uses. Having someone with visual landscape skills involved in the initial layout of cutting units facilitates the design process. Require visual impact assessment and subsequent refinement of proposed alterations to meet visual landscape objectives on all of the most important scenic areas. Involve the public in the review of proposed harvest areas, providing illustrations that can be easily understood. R6.7 Continue the development of visual landscape guidelines in consultation with interdisciplinary teams, using monitoring and research results to refine the guidelines so that all resource values are appropriately addressed. R6.8 Integrate planning for recreational and tourism resources. Because of their strong interrelationships, plan recreation and tourism in concert with planning for scenic resources. R6.9 Ensure that the First Nations, provincial, regional, and local governments, and recreation and tourism groups are the principals involved in the inventory, analysis, and planning of tourism and recreational resources. Create opportunities for meaningful involvement by other public and industry groups. R6.10 Ensure that recreation inventories are conducted at subregional scales (e.g., 1:250Ê000) and watershed scales (e.g., 1:50Ê000 or 1:20Ê000). Display inventory information in a form that is easy for the public to understand. R6.11 Analyze recreational and tourism opportunities, and develop plans for recreation and tourism at the subregional, watershed, and site levels. At the subregional level, these plans should include recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS), scenic, and other management objectives for all areas, including identification of acceptable activities and uses. At the watershed level, plans should include potential uses and facilities for specific sites, and management objectives for protecting the resources at those sites. Management objectives should include the level of protection required, from complete protection to protection of key features. At the site level, plans should ensure that key characteristics of the site are retained and that alteration or development is sensitive to the value of the resources to the public. R6.12 Ensure that forest planning addresses recreational and tourism values and resources through explicit objectives. Planning for Sustainable Ecosystem Management R7.1 Adopt an ecosystem approach to planning, in which the primary planning objective is to sustain the productivity and natural diversity of the Clayoquot Sound region. The flow of forest products must be determined in a manner consistent with objectives for ecosystem sustainability. This entails abandoning the specification of AAC as an input to local planning. R7.2 Adopt physiographic or ecological land units, rather than administrative units, as the basis for planning. Use the watershed as the basic unit for planning and management, recognizing that more than one watershed may be required to plan for values such as biodiversity, scenery, and cultural features. R7.3 Use practices that represent the best application of scientific and traditional knowledge and local experience in the Clayoquot region. To accomplish this, collect appropriate baseline information about the full range of biophysical and cultural forest resources and values, and use this information and knowledge to assess ecological responses to change. R7.4 Engage the Nuu-Chah-Nulth and other local people in all phases of planning and managing the land, freshwater, and marine resources of Clayoquot Sound. R7.5 Develop plans at subregional, watershed, and site levels, and establish internal consistency among these plans, so that plans developed for smaller areas and shorter time periods are consistent with plans for larger areas and longer time periods. R7.6 Ensure that plans are consistent with land-use objectives for adjacent Protected Areas and special management zones. R7.7 Base planning on a long-term perspective, at least in the order of 100 years when considering large areas, and 10 years for operational planning of smaller areas. These time frames are required to incorporate the cycles of many natural processes, and to ensure that operational plans address post-harvest management. R7.8 Inventory, analyze, and plan for a full range of forest resources, forest uses, and forest management activities. Undertake new inventory as needed at an early stage of planning, prior to analysis. R7.9 Monitor the effects of plans and check against management objectives to facilitate adjustments to better achieve intended goals; that is, employ adaptive management procedures. R7.10 Recognize that the rate (percentage of area cut per unit time) and geographical distribution of timber harvesting are more important determinants than is the volume removed when wood harvest is planned. After analysis of resources and development of area-based plans, determine the anticipated annual volumes of timber to be cut for watershed-level planning units. R7.11 Appoint a planning committee, which includes stakeholders and other interested parties and experts at all levels of planning, to coordinate the planning process in Clayoquot Sound. Committee members must be highly motivated, knowledgeable about resources, and willing to adopt the protocol described in R7.14. R7.12 Open planning committee meetings to public observation and participation. Interested members of the public should be able to request time on meeting agendas for making presentations. All papers, reports, and documents used by the planning committee should be available for public review. R7.13 Notify subregional- and watershed-level planning committees about site-level plans. These committees do not need to be involved in site-level plans, although they should monitor the implementation of these plans to ensure that they are in accordance with watershed and subregional plans (e.g., Tsitika Follow-up Committee adopted a similar role). At the site level, the forest manager involved (i.e., tenure holder, licensee, or government agency) should undertake planning in accordance with higher level plans, and with appropriate expert assistance. R7.14 Planning should include the following steps: * Develop and agree on a working protocol, based on mutual respect, that will guide the planning process. The protocol must clarify how the group will work together, how disputes will be settled, how decisions (consensus or other) will be reached, and how the process (including meeting and work schedules) will proceed. * Establish planning objectives in terms appropriate for each planning level. Identify the types of environmental and cultural resources that are to be protected. * Based on these objectives, determine the methods and scope of the inventory required. * Analyze data to determine status of resources, rates of biological processes, and consequent land and resource sensitivities and capabilities. Support planning as needed with technical analysis by experts from appropriate resource management agencies, forest companies, First Nations, and other parties. Identify areas to be reserved and areas where resource extraction or development may occur, including constraints that may limit the amount and type of activity. * Develop plans for specific management activities based on input from members of the planning team and the public. Evaluate various plan options to determine which best meets planning objectives. * Implement plans primarily at the site level (i.e., confirm boundaries of harvestable areas and specific locations of resource extraction and development activities). As noted in the Panel's second report, workers with education and training in ecosystem management must conduct this step; worker skills should be upgraded as required. Effects of implementation extend beyond the site. Monitoring should be instituted at site and watershed levels to track effects. * Monitor ecosystem processes and components to assess the extent to which objectives are being met. R7.15 Implement the following time frames for planning: * 100 years for subregional-level planning with major revisions every 10 years, or more frequently if required; * 100 years for watershed-level planning, showing projected activities in 10-year increments, with revisions every five years, or more frequently if required; and * 10 years for site-level planning, starting five or more years ahead of the work, with revisions every year during active operations. Resource planning should be conducted within a 100-year horizon, and operational planning should occur within a 10-year horizon. Planners and managers must realize, however, that factors operating on the longer time scales of the ecosystem may affect plans and activities within the 10- to 100-year scales. A very significant effect may be associated with the changing resiliency of animal populations in the face of clearing and fragmentation of formerly continuous forest habitat. R7.16 At the watershed level, map and designate reserves in which no harvesting will occur to protect key hydroriparian ecosystems, unstable slopes and sensitive soils, red- and blue-listed species, late successional forest with forest-interior conditions, important cultural values, and areas with high value scenic and recreational resources. Integrate reserve establishment with the refinement and detailed mapping of various land-use zones (e.g., Protected Areas). Reserves include: * Reserves to protect hydroriparian resources. Identify reserves that include the drainage system and hydroriparian zone around streams, lakes, wetlands, and marine shores to ensure adequate protection for aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Drainage features and their hydroriparian zones are critical to protecting ecosystems, especially in Clayoquot Sound. The approach to maintaining their functional integrity proceeds from a classification system based on both physical and biological features. * Reserves to protect sensitive soils and unstable terrain. Identify reserves for unstable slopes by the extent of stability class V terrain as determined by the methodology outlined in the forthcoming Mapping and Assessing Terrain Stability Guidebook. Sensitive soils (e.g., blocky colluvium, very shallow folisols) which decline in productivity when disturbed must also be reserved. Only stable terrain and resilient soils should be available for forest harvesting operations. * Reserves to protect red- and blue-listed plant and animal species. Red- and blue-listed species are either threatened, endangered, vulnerable, or rare. Identify and reserve habitats for species on these lists, recognizing that protection is often better implemented at the site level for widely ranging, rare species; and that planning their protection may occur at the subregional level. * Reserves to protect forest-interior conditions in late successional forest. Some species of plants and animals are closely associated with microclimatic conditions found inside older forests. It is important, therefore, to maintain some patches of older forests that provide conditions similar to the interior of historic forests. Assuming tree heights of 50Êm, a reserve width of 300Êm will provide at least some forest-interior conditions. The Panel recommends that 20% of the forests in age classes 8 and 9 of a watershed-level planning unit should constitute forest-interior conditions. Use 1:10Ê000 to 1:20Ê000 scale air photos and forest cover maps to identify forest-interior conditions. Providing no evidence is found that age class 9 requires further subdivision, the Panel assumes that this habitat information is readily available from forest cover maps. Monitoring should be designed to evaluate this assumption. * Reserves to protect cultural values. The Panel's report First Nations' Perspectives Relating to Forest Practices Standards in Clayoquot Sound discusses a variety of culturally important areas, including sacred areas, historic areas, and current use areas. These areas must be determined by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nations and protected in ways consistent with traditional knowledge. * Reserves to protect scenic and recreational values. Protect areas with especially high scenic and recreational values from alteration. These areas include unprotected unaltered areas with the highest scenic values, unaltered scenic areas of high value which are important because of their location (e.g., visible from a community or an important recreation site), and important recreation sites such as beaches or bays with primitive use objectives. Identify these areas through the scenic and recreational planning processes. * Reserves to represent all ecosystems. Calculate areas of each biogeoclimatic site series (or surrogate) contained within all designated reserve areas. Note that the previously mentioned reserves will commonly overlap. Add to these reserves, as necessary, to ensure that the entire variety of ecosystems is represented in the reserve system to maintain plants, animals, and other organisms that have specific habitat requirements. Reserve ecosystems that are rare in greater proportion than their representation in the area. * Reserves to ensure linkages among watershed-level planning areas. Based on information from the subregional planning level, add to the reserve as necessary to allow migrations of animals, to provide connectivity among plant and animal populations, or to accommodate recreational opportunities. R7.17 Designate the entire hydroriparian zone as a special management zone. A special management zone is an area to which particular land management rules or constraints apply. These rules are the direct consequence of the quality of the terrain or features found in the area. The hydroriparian zone consists of the entire floodplain of the stream, alluvial fan surfaces, and, where channels are entrenched, the entire slope that rises immediately from the channel. Hydroriparian zones delimited by none of these features are defined according to microclimate influences around the stream, as previously discussed. The floodplain is the flat valley floor ("valley flat") constructed by the river, hence underlain by alluvial sediments. R7.18 Reserve the entire "contemporary floodplain" of streams in Class A(1) (alluvial channels with gradient less than 8%), except areas of "dry floodplain" more than 50Êm from a perennially or seasonally active channel or site of seasonal standing water. Dry floodplain may be a special management area harvested by a silvicultural system with high retention, provided that appropriate access can be arranged. The "contemporary floodplain" is the valley flat adjacent to a stream channel that is subject to inundation in the contemporary streamflow regime and that, consequently, has soils composed of recently deposited stream sediments. "Active floodplain" denotes that part of the floodplain subject to frequent inundation; that is, occupation by standing or flowing water more often than once in five years. The five-year period is chosen because regional analyses of stream flooding in western North America show that nearly all streams with contemporary floodplains exceed "bankfull" and occupy at least a part of the floodplain at least once in every five years. At a frequency of once in five years, the annual and partial duration flood sequences essentially coincide: that is, water levels are unlikely to be so high more than once within the same year. This one-in-five-year frequency definition of the active floodplain is operationally identical with that of "riparian woods" given in the Proposed Wetland Classification System for British Columbia. "Dry floodplain" means floodplain areas subject only to occasional inundation (i.e., occupation by standing or flowing water at least once in 30 years), and not otherwise classified as "wetland." A period beyond 30 years is difficult to establish. In practice, frequency of inundation on many floodplains cannot be precisely determined: the presence of water-tolerant understory plants will be the best indicator of the extent of the active floodplain. Dry floodplain areas may be discriminated by the presence of overbank stream sediments deeper than in the active floodplain, on which a substantial litter layer (LFH soil horizon) has accumulated. "Appropriate access" in this recommendation (R7.18) means access that does not, in the opinion of a professional biologist with expertise in riparian ecology, constrain or threaten ecosystem function in any way (as by establishing a barrier to waterflows or to the movement of animals). R7.19 In Class A(2) (alluvial channels with gradient of 8-20%), reserve areas within 50Êm of present channels (30Êm for A(2)(i): channels less than 3Êm wide), recently active channels, and any other routes that appear, in the opinion of a professional geoscientist or professional engineer with expertise in fluvial geomorphology or river engineering, to be subject to avulsion. Other portions of the hydroriparian zone of Class A(2) streams may be harvested by a high retention system. In the case of alluvial fans, the "contemporary fan surface" shall be treated the same as the contemporary floodplain (R7.18) and reserved from logging. R7.20 Treat streams in Class B(1)(a) (non-alluvial channels with gradient less than 8%, not entrenched) as Class A(1) (see R7.25 for exceptions). It is probable that, in this class, a much larger portion of the valley flat will be dry floodplain, hence available for high retention harvest. In many cases, the "valley flat" will consist of a low terrace, but it will be difficult to obtain unequivocal evidence that the stream does not inundate the surface, or to obtain expert agreement on such a classification. This physiographic situation is common in British Columbia; in many situations, streams are very slightly degraded into early Holocene alluvium but have immediately armoured their bed with large rocks and have not formed trenches. In addition, the absence of hydrological measurements on most streams means that flood levels cannot be established with legal precision. This recommendation seeks to avoid the need for controversial decisions because frequent inundation is easy to demonstrate. R7.21 For streams in Class B(1)(b) (non-alluvial channels with gradient less than 8%, entrenched), designate a reserve that extends to the top of the entrenchment slope or 50Êm from the streambank (30Êm for B(1)(b)(i), width less than 3Êm), whichever is greater. Feathering for windfirmness may be permitted at the outer edge of the reserve (see also following comment). An additional reserve or "no machinery" zone of at least 30Êm width will be designated beyond the top of slopes that are being actively undercut by the stream. The top of the entrenchment slope coincides with the limit of the "inner gorge" as specified in the British Columbia Forest Practices Code Standards with Revised Rules and Field Guide References. The purpose of the additional reserve or special management zone above undercut slopes is to avoid aggravating potential instability by destroying the root network. Mature trees in this zone may be harvested if they can be felled away from the stream within a high retention harvest plan. Streams confined by stable rock slopes constitute a special case (see R7.28). R7.22 Treat streams in Class B(2)(a) (non-alluvial channels with gradient 8-20%, not entrenched) as Class A(2) (see R7.25 for exceptions). Streams in this category will often be flowing on steep alluvial fans where it is difficult to decide whether the surface is "active" (subject to frequent inundation). They may be subject only to very rare (but major) debris-flow events. Defining any part of the fan surface that is not liable to experience avulsion will be more difficult than in the case of Class A. R7.23 Treat streams in Class B(2)(b) (non-alluvial channels with gradient 8-20%, entrenched) as B(1)(b). R7.24 For streams in Class B(3)(a)(i) (non-alluvial channels with gradient greater than 20%, not entrenched, seasonal or perennial flow), designate a reserve that extends 20Êm from the channel. Seasonal or perennial streams, unlike ephemeral streams, have regular base flow, derived either from springs or persistent seepage through the banks. R7.25 Designate no general reserve for streams in Class B(3)(a)(ii) (non-alluvial channels with gradient greater than 20%, not entrenched, ephemeral flow), and those channels in classes B(1)(a)(i) and B(2)(a)(i) (non-alluvial channels with gradient less than 21%, not entrenched, less than 3Êm wide) that carry only ephemeral flow. But, require evaluation by a professional biologist to determine whether special management prescriptions are warranted for ecological reasons, and employ special management where deemed necessary. This recommendation seeks to avoid excessive division of the landscape around small ephemeral channels. Nearly all of these channels will be directly downslope from channels in Class B(3)(a)(ii), which are similarly treated. Ephemeral streams carry storm runoff only, which is derived from bank seepage or from overland flow. Ephemeral streams should be classified during ground-based terrain checking. Most of these streams will be less than 1Êm wide. Special management prescriptions might specify local reserves, and no machinery (falling and yarding away from the hydroriparian zone). R7.26 For streams in Class B(3)(b) (non-alluvial channels with gradient greater than 20%, entrenched), designate a reserve that extends to the top of the entrenchment slope or 20Êm from the channel, whichever is greater. However, if the sidewalls adjacent to the channel (and including the channel zone) are classified as having low or no potential for instability, then apply criteria for Class B(3)(a). Apply gully assessment procedures to channels that are classified as gullies according to the Gully Assessment Procedures for British Columbia Forests. Most streams in this category in Clayoquot Sound will be gullies. R7.27 Apply the gully management prescription according to the Gully Assessment Procedures for British Columbia Forests. However, modify the pre-logging management strategies described in their procedure for use in Clayoquot Sound so that all channels assessed as having high or moderate potential for downstream impact, and high or moderate potential for debris flow, water flood, or fan destabilization shall have no logging within the gully. R7.28 Notwithstanding the foregoing recommendations, Class B streams (non-alluvial channels) that are confined by stable rock walls, and are classified as having low overall habitat value and low potential to affect downstream reaches have no special management requirements with respect to hydroriparian integrity. Where a V-notch in surficial material occurs immediately above a rock notch, apply the prescription for a trenched channel. This recommendation seeks to avoid defining special management or reserves for barren rock-bound cascades and waterfalls. Of course, many such sites have special habitat value. Other constraints, in particular cultural or scenic constraints, may also apply. R7.29 In community watersheds, make all channels above the intake subject to the previous prescriptions. In addition, extend the special management zone 50Êm from any channel, even if the hydroriparian zone or entrenchment slope does not extend so far. This prescription provides additional assurance that the soil near channels is not damaged in any way that would compromise its ability to effectively filter water seeping into the channel. R7.30 Around all lakes, designate a special management zone that includes all the area under hydroriparian influence, or 50Êm, whichever is greater. The first 30Êm from the shore shall be a reserve. The remaining zone may be subject to retention systems of harvest provided it is outside the hydroriparian zone proper. R7.31 Where special inshore lacustrine, ecological, or cultural values are identified (e.g., inshore spawning gravels), and steep slopes occur immediately behind the shore, extend the reserve or special management zone upslope as far as necessary to protect these special values. R7.32 For Class (2) lakes smaller than 4 ha in area, designate a reserve that includes all the area under hydroriparian influence or 30Êm, whichever is greater. Lakes are superficially equivalent to contemporary floodplains which require a 50Êm reserve. For a lake of 4.5 ha, the area of a 50Êm surrounding reserve becomes equal to the area of a circular (most compact) waterbody. For smaller waterbodies the reserve is larger than the waterbody. Acknowledging the distance required for climatic factors such as wind, temperature, and humidity to adjust to a change in the character of the surface, designating a reserve zone very much larger than the protected waterbody appears unreasonable. R7.33 On low gradient edges of a wetland, establish a reserve that extends to the limit of hydroriparian influence. Low gradient in this case means essentially flat ground, less than 1% slope. Establishment of the "limit of hydroriparian influence" in the foregoing recommendations should be based on understory plant associations or on soil characteristics. R7.34 On sloping edges of a wetland, establish a special management zone on the same basis as for lakes. R7.35 On Class A(1) and A(2)(i) shores (low shores adjacent to open waters), extend a riparian reserve inland 150Êm from the seaward edge of forest vegetation, or to the inland limit of shore-associated features (e.g., overgrown sand dunes), whichever is greater. The distance is determined by wind forces and the distance for wind attenuation inside the forest. Measurements on the lower Alaskan coast indicate that 150Êm is sufficient to achieve this. R7.36 On the remaining Class A(2) shores (cliffs, bluffs, and steep shores adjacent to open waters), extend a riparian reserve 100Êm inland from the top of the coastal slope or bluff. On eroding shores, a larger distance may be specified if required by slope stability criteria. R7.37 On Class B marine shores, extend a riparian reserve 100Êm inland from the seaward edge of forest vegetation, or to the inland limit of shore-associated features (e.g., sand dunes and lagoons, now within the forest), whichever is greater. For lagoons within the forest, establish a reserve on the inland shore (R7.30). R7.38 In estuaries proper, make a smooth transition from the marine shore reserve to the streamside special management zone. R7.39 Avoid road construction in hydroriparian reserves. Where no practical alternative is possible, abandoning the development may be advisable. If the development does proceed, engineer and construct the road to minimize disturbance. Require professional engineering supervision at all stages of road construction. The chief circumstances where a road may have to enter a hydroriparian reserve is for direct crossing from one side to another of a stream reserve, or to follow an active floodplain or lakeshore where the higher terrain is not accessible or cannot be safely crossed. R7.40 In hydroriparian reserves, engineer the road and bridges to ensure that the security of neither the road nor the hydroriparian ecosystem is jeopardized. The road shall not interfere with the circulation of water or with the movement of terrestrial or aquatic animals. In particular, the design must ensure that the roadway does not act as a dam during periods of high flow or storm surge, nor as a source of sediment. R7.41 Roads constructed near the slope base at the edge of a floodplain or other hydroriparian zone must provide for passage of cross-drainage into the riparian zone. Design traffic and machinery holding places to prevent traffic-associated contaminants from escaping into the hydroriparian zone. Select road surface materials to minimize dust production. Monitoring R8.1 Initiate a long-term monitoring program that includes both areas that are reserved from land-use practices and areas that will experience land-use practices. R8.2 Incorporate into the monitoring program the elements summarized in Sections 8.2 through 8.4. Specifically, monitor: * watershed and coastal integrity - including hillslopes and forest soils, stream channels, regional streamflow and water quality, and the coastal zone; * biological diversity - including genetic variation, vulnerable and rare indigenous species, terrestrial environments, old-growth characteristics, and aquatic environments; * human activities and values - including areas important to First Nations; scenic, recreational, and tourist values; and regional commodity production; and * implementation of forest management plans. R8.3 Use the findings of this program to modify, as required, management strategies as well as individual plans and practices. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Nations' Perspectives Relating to Forest Practices Standards in Clayoquot Sound, Report 3 Note: Prefix 'R' refers to 'recommendation'. International Convention R1 All forest activities in Clayoquot Sound must meet either the following standards, or international standards (e.g., United Nations 1992) regarding indigenous peoples' relationships with the forest, whichever is more rigorous. Co-Management R2 Co-management of the Clayoquot Sound ecosystem must be based on equal partnership between the Nuu-Chah-Nulth and the Province of British Columbia. R3 The first step in developing an ecosystem-based co-management strategy for Clayoquot Sound must be to establish a working protocol based on mutual respect. This protocol must be developed and agreed to by all participating agencies and individuals, and must be followed throughout planning and decision-making processes. Consultation and Planning R4 All decision-making processes relating to ecosystem use and management in the Clayoquot Sound Decision Area must be undertaken in full consultation with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. R5 All planning processes for forest and ecosystem use in the Clayoquot Sound Decision Area must be undertaken with full consultation and shared decision-making with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. Recognition of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) R6 Standards for forest practices must incorporate traditional ecological knowledge. Conflicts between scientific knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge must be resolved in consultation with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. Inventory, monitoring, and research must also recognize and include TEK. Hahuulhi: Traditional System for Ecosystem Management R7 In consultation with the co-chairs of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council, hahuulhi, the traditional system for ecosystem management, must be recognized in ecosystem co-management processes of Clayoquot Sound. Hahuulhi will be used in determining ecosystem management within traditional boundary lines. Foreshore and Offshore Resources R8 Impacts of planned forestry practices on foreshore and offshore resources of Clayoquot Sound must be assessed in consultation with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. Where there is a risk of damage to these resources, alternative low risk practices must be employed. R9 In cases where foreshore and/or offshore resources have already been damaged or are damaged accidentally, immediate steps must be taken to mitigate or reverse the damage and to restore resource capabilities to their former condition. Nuu-Chah-Nulth Cultural Areas, Including Sacred Areas, Historic Areas, Current Use Areas, and Future Use Areas R10 Before the completion of any ecosystem planning process in Clayoquot Sound, the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of the area within which the planning is undertaken must be given the opportunity to identify, locate, and evaluate culturally important sites and areas. R11 The Heritage Conservation Branch typology (Section 4.2.2) for classification of culturally important sites ("traditional use sites") should be used with the categories of "Traditional Land Management Sites" and "Education and Training Sites" to be added to the categories delineated in this typology. R12 The determination of culturally important areas will include sites whose significance and existence are communicated by oral traditions as well as those established by physical and written evidence. R13 Culturally important areas identified as significant by Nuu-Chah-Nulth must be protected using methods appropriate to the area and to the use. Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Parks R14 Tribal Parks, owned and managed by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth for public purposes, must come under the authority and jurisdiction of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth. The character of Tribal Parks is not yet firmly specified; Nuu-Chah-Nulth must participate in developing concepts concerning Tribal Parks. Inventory and Mapping R15 Planning inventories undertaken in Clayoquot Sound for ecosystem management must be done in full consultation with and full participation of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. Nuu-Chah-Nulth cultural resources and culturally important areas must be incorporated in planning inventories before completion of the planning process. R16 Mapping projects undertaken in Clayoquot Sound for ecosystem management must be done in full consultation with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. Nuu-Chah-Nulth cultural resources and culturally important areas, as identified by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound, must be clearly shown on maps, with particular attention to zones of high cultural and sustenance value. (First Nations sacred areas are a potential exception.) Operations R17 All operations in Clayoquot Sound relating to ecosystem management, such as environmental impact assessment, selection of silvicultural systems and harvesting methods, proposed use of herbicides and pesticides, and road location, construction, and deactivation, must be carried out in full consultation with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. Education and Training R18 Provisions must be made for the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound to participate in education programs relating to ecosystem management processes and practices to enable them to obtain the necessary background to co-manage Clayoquot Sound ecosystems. R19 As part of a system of forest worker qualification, all forest and ecosystem workers and managers should be provided with an opportunity to view educational videos produced by Nuu-Chah-Nulth people about Nuu-Chah-Nulth perspectives on forest practices and their impacts on the environment as well as about Nuu-Chah-Nulth culture in general. Employment R20 Firms must actively recruit First Nations in employment equity; federal government guidelines for employment equity must be followed. Monitoring R21 All ongoing ecosystem management activities must incorporate monitoring programs for impacts on biodiversity, soil, water quality, fisheries and marine systems, and cultural sites, with full consultation of and participation by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. Evaluation R22 In full consultation with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound, impacts of present and ongoing forest activities in Clayoquot Sound must be evaluated through environmental and social impact assessment procedures. R23 Where damage to ecosystems, culturally important areas, and traditional resources due to these activities is likely to occur, mitigative actions must be undertaken. Restoration R24 Where damage to ecosystems, culturally important areas, and traditional resources due to forestry activities is found, restoration must be undertaken. R25 All phases of restoration activities in damaged Clayoquot Sound ecosystems must be undertaken in full consultation and with active participation of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound. Research R26 Research and inventory must be undertaken to complement Nuu-Chah-Nulth traditional ecological knowledge and experience. R27 Opportunities and imperatives for research on impacts of past, present, and future forest practices on Clayoquot Sound ecosystems, and on possibilities for employment identified by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound must be developed, in full consultation with and participation of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Clayoquot Sound, to enhance the effectiveness of sustainable ecosystem management. Ê ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Review of Current Forest Practice Standards in Clayoquot Sound, Report 2 General Based on the Panel's findings regarding current standards, its Guiding Principles, and the belief that forest practices in Clayoquot Sound must be scientifically sound, operationally achievable, measurable, enforceable, and safe, the Panel makes the following general recommendations: 1 Manage the forests and waters of Clayoquot Sound to: * maintain the productive capacity of the interlinked land, freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems; * maintain biodiversity of land and water ecosystems; * include First Nations' spiritual and other values; * maintain heritage, recreation and scenic values; and * sustain levels of commercial resource use consistent with the preceding goals. These goals define a strategy known as "sustainable ecosystem management" which is based on our understanding of ecosystem function, and on principles of resource sustainability and intergenerational equity (our obligation to leave undamaged forests and water for future generations). Sustainable ecosystem management requires the participation of multidisciplinary teams representing First Nations, industry, governments, and the public. 2 Determine the levels of goods and services to be produced from Clayoquot Sound (e.g., cubic metres of wood, visitor days) through a comprehensive ecosystem assessment and planning process. Define outputs that are sustainable within limits that maintain the integrity of ecosystems. 3 Collect resource information that supports sustainable ecosystem management. Expand inventories to include the status, abundance, and distribution of resources and values in addition to the critical factors that restrict timber harvesting and other resource-extracting operations. 4 Develop a strategy to protect the full pattern of drainage through the landscape. Modification or disruption of subsurface drainage channels or small, non-fish-bearing streams can increase soil erosion and adversely affect fish or other components of biodiversity. 5 Increase the level of riparian protection by increasing streamside buffer widths, including headwater and intermittent streams, identifying and protecting unstable land areas. Water is critical to riparian areas--which are central to temperate rainforests--and protecting riparian zones underlies sustainable ecosystem management in Clayoquot Sound. 6 Broaden the silvicultural systems used in Clayoquot Sound, beyond clearcutting. Select appropriate silvicultural systems to maintain natural landscape patterns and stand structures, and to meet a variety of management objectives other than timber production. 7 Select harvesting methods to meet the requirements of silvicultural systems, minimize environmental impacts, and meet worker safety standards. 8 Practice adaptive management so that forest practices improve as knowledge and experience are gained. Undertake formal adaptive management in carefully selected areas to assess the effectiveness of new forest practices. 9 Plan and manage forests to prevent ecosystem degradation. Restore ecosystems where damage occurs. 10 Provide education and training programs to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the current workforce and to increase the number of qualified workers on the ground. Sustainable ecosystem management is complex and requires a workforce informed of the principles involved. 11 Develop procedures for company or worker prequalification and disqualification. Even the best forestry practices can pose considerable risk to the environment if not carried out to their intended standards. 12 Consider worker safety when defining acceptable practices. Involve safety personnel when developing standards and new forest practices (e.g., Wildlife Tree Committee). 13 Use consistent terminology, definitions, and inventory requirements in defining standards and practices at different levels of the planning hierarchy. 14 Establish appropriate phase-in periods for standards requiring major changes to current practices. This will allow stakeholders time to adjust and will help to ensure compliance. Soils, Slope Stability, and Erosion 1 Develop standards that maintain natural conditions of slope instability, erosion, and sediment input to all streams. 2 Identify and map areas of land, soils, and ecosystems capable of sustained production, as well as areas with sensitivities that prevent the sustainable harvesting of ecosystem products. Then, define "production forest" and "protection forest" in terms of terrain, soil, ecosystem, and site characteristics, and the "operable forest" in terms of economics and technology. The area considered production forest will not change with time unless new insight is gained from research. The operable portion of the production forest will shift in time, as economic factors change and technology develops. 3 Define methods and levels for mapping terrain and assessing slope stability. Apply these methods and levels consistently in developing Total Resource Plans, Development Plans, and operational plans. 4 Carry out a landslide inventory in conjunction with initial terrain and slope stability mapping. 5 Improve the location, design, construction, maintenance, and deactivation of roads and road drainage structures (e.g., ditches, stream and cross-drain culverts) to meet the demands of the wet, coastal climate. 6 Improve road design and construction techniques to better maintain natural hillslope hydrology and drainage. 7 Re-establish vegetative cover on cutslopes, fillslopes, and landslide scars consistently and promptly following disturbance (except on bedrock or clean shot-rock). Monitor the effectiveness of re-vegetation efforts and undertake follow-up work as needed. 8 For major watersheds develop comprehensive sediment and erosion control plans and programs that: * identify and rate the severity of both natural and human-induced sources of sediment and erosion; * integrate erosion control plans with road maintenance and construction plans; and * outline contingency action plans for specific erosion events, and prescribe mitigation and rehabilitation measures. 9 Reserve as protection forests, areas where slopes, soils, and surficial materials have a high hazard of sliding when disturbed by logging. 10 Apply partial cutting methods to retain root strength on sites with moderate slope stability hazard, and in localized areas of high hazard where retaining small patches of standing trees poses a high risk of windfall. 11 Conserve the accumulated soil organic material of thin soils. Develop appropriate silviculture and logging plans to protect thin soils on steep, rocky slopes and on areas of hummocky or ridged bedrock. 12 Protect poorly-drained forest sites and wetlands by designing and constructing roads and road drainage, and managing adjacent upland forests in ways that ensure water tables are not altered. Water Flow 1 Map permanent and ephemeral stream channels, evident seepage zones, and other significant hydrological features during pre-harvest terrain analysis. Apply this information to plan road and site development with minimal disturbance of the natural drainage network. 2 Establish regulations for the design and maintenance of road drainage that require natural drainage routes be maintained. 3 Design cutblock layout and harvest sequence at the watershed level to minimize disturbance of the natural runoff regime and to maintain flows within the range of natural variability. 4 Apply rate-of-cut criteria within watersheds greater than 200 ha in area. Water Quality 1 Designate floodplains, gully complexes, and alluvial fans as riparian management zones to recognize physical and ecological connections. 2 Revise the current British Columbia Coastal Fisheries/Forestry Guidelines to make enforceable those sections related to sediment loading and nutrient flushing. 3 Recognize the value of and develop plans that maintain aquatic ecosystems with and without fisheries resources. 4 Develop appropriate operational definitions for processes where additive and cumulative effects occur. 5 Conduct research to improve understanding of the effects of slope clearcutting on groundwater and stream thermal regimes. 6 Impose constraints on the rate-of-cut and consequent area in early- and mid-successional forest at any given time. 7 Prevent the discharge of oil, diesel fuel, gasoline, pesticide, or other toxic material onto the ground or into any part of the aquatic system. Maintain a system for cleaning up toxic materials accidentally spilled. Channel Integrity 1 Designate and manage riparian management zones to ensure that an adequate future supply of large woody debris is available along the immediate reach of the stream channel, even if a reach of the channel moves elsewhere on the floodplain. 2 Maintain a leave strip to protect stream channel integrity in all stream reaches with flowing water or with intermittent flows which may transport sediment or debris. Do not remove trees from this leave strip even if it seems likely that they will blow down. 3 Complete and implement procedures for assessing risk of debris and sediment transport from gully systems. 4 Implement measures to avoid creating hydrological conditions in which extremely high water flows destabilize banks and dislodge large woody debris. 5 Implement measures to avoid increasing sediment inputs from upslope areas into any reach of the stream channel or other part of the aquatic system. Deal with all potential sources of sediment including those associated with yarding, building bridges and landings, and building, maintaining, and deactivating roads. 6 Revise the British Columbia Coastal Fisheries/Forestry Guidelines to ensure that sections affecting the maintenance of channel integrity are written in enforceable language. Maintaining Biodiversity 1 Develop a regional system of protected areas that protects representative examples of all major ecosystems. 2 Undertake complementary activities to maintain biological diversity in managed watersheds. 3 Require an inventory of ecological resources as a prerequisite to development planning. 4 In managed watersheds, maintain the connection between habitats by ensuring that treatment units are not ecological barriers. This can be accomplished by choosing appropriate silvicultural systems, green-up periods, and silviculture treatments, or by developing Forest Ecosystem Networks (FENs). 5 Build FENs from the following critical components: * riparian management zones adjacent to water bodies, including some upland habitat; * habitats important to threatened and endangered species; * patches of old forest large enough to provide forest-interior habitat for species requiring those conditions; and * representation of rare ecosystems which are not included in any of the previous components. Areas of inoperable and unmerchantable forest can be included, but not at the expense of any of the previous components. 6 Develop a stream classification system based on broad criteria of biological diversity and hydrological and geomorphic processes, rather than primarily on fish. 7 Protect riparian areas. Retain most trees (including merchantable trees) and understory vegetation in riparian areas to maximize the value of riparian areas for terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. 8 Recognize the importance of coarse woody debris as habitat in guidelines and standards for stand management (e.g., utilization standards, site preparation guidelines). 9 In all watersheds, minimize the number, total length, and width of cleared right-of-way of roads, and deactivate some roads after use to accommodate species sensitive to human activity. 10 Develop a planning procedure for retaining trees for wildlife individually and in patches at the stand level. In the procedure, recognize that appropriate levels and patterns of retention will vary among sites. Require PHSPs to include a prescription for structural retention in each treatment unit. 11 Base guidelines for stand structure, age-class distributions, and landscape patterns on the historical states of forests in each area. In Clayoquot Sound, focus stand-level prescriptions to maintain biodiversity on maintaining old-growth characteristics in managed stands. These characteristics include large old trees, large down wood, dying and dead trees, and complex vertical and horizontal structure. 12 Require planning documents to consider a range of silvicultural systems for the watershed. Include structural retention in standards for silvicultural systems. Incorporate stand-level management practices in PHSPs (e.g., as recommended in the Guidelines to Maintain Biological Diversity in Coastal Forests). 13 Avoid silvicultural systems that produce a regular checkerboard of cut and uncut areas across the landscape (e.g., clearcutting). 14 Develop guidelines for resolving conflicts between existing guidelines (e.g., between guidelines for biodiversity and utilization standards). Ensure that stocking standards and other silviculture standards are flexible enough to maintain biodiversity. 15 Develop procedures for resolving potential conflicts between guidelines for scenic resources and for biodiversity (e.g., removing what might be considered unsightly snags that are valuable woodpecker habitat). Provide public education on why specific practices are undertaken for biodiversity. Scenic Resources 1 Inventory, analyze, and manage scenic resources in all areas, not only "visually sensitive areas." Recognize that the level of management may vary depending on the scenic values in respective areas. 2 Develop long-term plans (minimum of 20 years) that outline management objectives for scenic resources over large areas. 3 Develop methods for more objective landscape inventories, and complete landscape inventories using these methods. 4 Consider other uses than timber management in the inventory, analysis, and planning of scenic resources. 5 Analyze scenic resources with consideration for existing and potential tourism and recreation opportunities. 6 Include the perceptions of First Nations and other residents in Clayoquot Sound in all analyses of scenic resources. 7 Provide opportunities for meaningful input from public, tourism industry, recreation, and First Nations groups on scenic resources inventory, planning, and management. 8 Use landscape design principles to develop forest plans, integrating ecological and cultural values. 9 For key areas identified during landscape analysis, illustrate the visual effects of planned forestry development and make these plans available for public input. 10 Monitor the effects of all forestry activities on scenic resources. Document findings immediately and use them to evaluate and modify existing plans as necessary. Recreation and Tourism 1 Develop long-term plans (minimum 20 years) covering large areas that outline management objectives and specific plans for protecting recreation and tourism resources. 2 Provide opportunities for meaningful involvement by public, tourism industry, recreation, and First Nations groups on recreation resource inventory, planning, and management. 3 Integrate the requirement to maintain recreation and tourism resources into forest plans at all levels. 4 Monitor the effects of all forest activities on recreation and tourism values. Document findings immediately and use that information to evaluate and modify existing plans. Inclusion of First Nations The Panel makes the following recommendations to incorporate First Nations' interests and perspectives into standards and practices for Clayoquot Sound. 1 Include First Nations representatives at the onset of planning processes for Clayoquot Sound. 2 Respect traditional values, spirituality, and HaHuulhi, and provide for the traditional resource use and subsistence needs of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth in forest planning and management. 3 Incorporate First Nations' forest management practices, which are founded in traditional values and ecological knowledge, and which arise as a result of treaty negotiations, in forest inventory, planning, and management. 4 Conduct comprehensive consultation with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth about land use practices as specified in the Interim Measures Agreement. 5 Define cultural sites more comprehensively according to First Nations' understanding (e.g., including a variety of sacred sites, berry-picking sites, medicine-gathering sites). Use Nuu-Chah-Nulth guidance to undertake research, inventory, and identification of culturally relevant places and resources. 6 Recognize the importance and potential of concepts of tribal parks and sacred site reserves in land use planning. 7 Restore traditional sites that have been altered or degraded by logging practices (e.g., the former Carter Lake in Herbert Arm) in consultation with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth. 8 Provide for training, education, and meaningful employment of Nuu-Chah-Nulth people in both research and forestry activities to ensure that they benefit from commercial use of resources in Clayoquot Sound. 9 Give precedence to traditional Nuu-Chah-Nulth needs for sustenance (the definition of which should be agreed upon by governments and First Nations) over sport fishery, commercial, or other interests outside Clayoquot Sound. Provide for the well-being of wild fisheries before the needs of fish farming. 10 Develop standards that recognize, respect, implement, and enforce the maintenance of cultural and biological diversity recognized in UNCED's Agenda 21 and Guiding Principles on Forests, in forest management practices. 11 Recognize and take steps to minimize the impact of forest practices on marine ecosystems. Forest Planning 1 Adopt an ecosystem approach to forest planning that integrates the full spectrum of resource values, including timber. Undertake the following activities as part of the ecosystem planning process: * identify ecosystem components that must be maintained to sustain the productive capacity of the whole ecosystem; * plan how to produce and harvest timber while protecting ecosystem integrity; * plan all phases of forest management including inventory, access, logging, post-logging regeneration, stand treatments, road maintenance and deactivation, and watershed and wildlife habitat restoration; and * collect baseline biophysical and cultural information about the full range of forest conditions and resources before beginning development activities. 2 Conduct planning at ecologically relevant time and spatial scales--in the order of 100 years and over single watersheds, groups of watersheds, or other logical biophysical units. Develop a long-range resource or ecosystem plan before undertaking detailed plans at smaller scales for shorter planning periods. 3 Make the necessary changes to current planning processes to support ecosystem management, including providing for shared decision-making, shared authority, and an open public planning process. Respectfully incorporate Nuu-Chah-Nulth wisdom and perspectives, and involve Nuu-Chah-Nulth as partners in planning. 4 Use interdisciplinary teams and involve more specialists (e.g., hydrologists, biologists, geomorphologists, anthropologists) in planning and implementing ecosystem management activities than is done currently. Undeveloped Watersheds 1 Road construction and logging in the Clayoquot River, Sidney River, Ursus River, Ice River, and Cecilia Creek watersheds should be delayed until the following steps have been taken: * The necessary inventories of environmental and cultural resources and values, along with the approach to long-term planning (e.g., Total Resource Plans) have been prepared and subsequently approved by the Central Region Board (see also Section 5.5.2). * Exemplary forest practices and silvicultural systems have been demonstrated elsewhere before they are applied in undeveloped watersheds. * The Ministry of Forests has developed a prequalification procedure for work in environmentally sensitive areas, and all relevant companies and individuals are prequalified. 2 An implementation plan should be established and publicized for those steps potentially requiring significant time to implement. Phasing in the steps outlined in recommendation 1 should be completed as quickly as possible. Special Management Area Boundaries 1 Boundaries of Scenic Corridor Areas should be revised using more detailed information on resources to more accurately reflect the intent of the Clayoquot Sound Land Use Decision. 2 The Recreation and Wildlife Special Management Areas should also be subject to modification following adequate inventories and comprehensive consultation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information contact: Cortex Consultants Inc. #201 - 1290 Broad St. Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 2A5 Telephone: (604) 360-1492 Facsimile: (604) 360-1493 Email: cortex@sunshine.net